Apparatus for elevating and attaching plaster board and like sheet material



H. J. OLIVER 2,818,567 TACHING PLASTER Jan. 7, 1958 MATERIAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 APPARATUS FOR ELEVATING AND AT BOARD AND LIKE SHEET Filed. Sept. '7, 1956 INVENTOR. lf/AQOLO OL/l/EQ,

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H. J. OLIVER Jan. 7, 1958 2,818,567 APPARATUS FOR ELEVATING AND ATTACHING PLASTER BOARD AND LIKE SHEET MATERIAL 2 Sheets-$heet 2 Filed Sept. 7, 1956 IN VEN TOR.

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APPARATUS FOR ELEVATENG AND ATTACG PLASTER BQARD AND LIKE SHEET MATERIAL Harold John Oliver, Denver, Colo.

Application September 7, 1956, Serial No. 608,519 4 Claims. (Ci. l.1)

The present invention relates to apparatus designed to elevate and install plaster board sheets, sheets of lath material and other forms of wall and ceiling board.

In the finishing of the interiors of buildin s, the use of sheet material on walls and ceilings is increasingly favored. For example, in so-called dry wall construction, plaster board is applied to a ceiling, as well as to the walls of a room, and is nailed into place. Thereafter, the joints between abutting edges of the plaster board are taped, plastered, and sanded down, and the heads of the nails are inset sufliciently to permit their being also plastered over, thus to provide a wall which, when painted, will show no evidence of the joints or nails used. Purther, in wet wall construction, wherein plaster is applied over lath, the use of sheet lath material is also favored and again, the sheets of lath must be positioned in abutting relation upon the ceiling and nailed into place.

The operation of positioning sheets, which are often quite large, being generally 4' x 8' or even larger, is a difficult task. The sheets must be elevated, and while being held in proper position upon the ceiling must be tacked into place sufficiently to hold the same upon the ceiling, after which additional nails are applied to secure the connection. When a dry wall construction is involved, the nail heads must be set into the surface so as to be flush with or even recessed below the face of the panel or sheet.

While many elevatable platforms have been devised for the purpose of installing sheets of the character described, in all instances of which I have knowledge the devices of the prior art have been concerned entirely with the elevation and positioning of the sheets. In such devices there has still remained the necessity of manual-1y locating the nails and driving the same individually with a hammer through the sheets into the ceiling joists or other ceiling structure.

The main object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that will not only elevate and properly position a sheet against the ceiling with maximum ease and speed, but also will, by continued operation of the sheetelevating mechanism, cause all the necessary nails to be driven through the sheet into the ceiling.

A further object is to provide means in the apparatus facilitating the pre-positioning of the nails and insuring that the nails will remain properly positioned for extension into the ceiling responsive to operation of the structure in a direction to elevate and position the sheet.

A further object is to form the device in such a manner that it will elevate and nail into place sheets of various commercial sizes, such as 4' x 8 sheets and sheets 48" x 16".

A further object is to form the apparatus in such manner that it will be possessed of a high degree of strength while still being light in weight and capable of being readily collapsed for transportation, for movement about the structure in which the work is being performed, and for movement through doors of said structure.

Still another object is to form the apparatus in a manner such that on removal of the sheet support means thereof Y atent the device can be used as an elevatable scaffold by painters and other Workers, for many different purposes arising in the building trade.

Still another object is to provide an elevatable platform wherein the source of power used in elevating and lowering the platform can be controlled either from the floor surface or from the platform, still further adapting the device for use by workers when the device is not being employed for positioning and nailing sheets against the ceiling.

Other objects will appear from the following description, the claims appended thereto, and from the annexed drawings, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of apparatus formed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary side elevational view showing the sheet support means, part being shown in section, a supported sheet being illustrated fragmentarily and in dotted lines;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view on the same scale as Figure 2, of the sheet support means; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view fragmentarily illustrating the means for elevating the platform.

The device constituting the present invention includes a horizontal, rectangular, open-bottom frame generally designated 10, of welded angle iron formation, including longitudinal members 12 and end or transverse members 14. A cross brace 16 is fixedly connected between members 12;, and any desired number of such cross braces can be employed. The bottom frame 10 is rollably supported, through the provision of casters 1% located adjacent the several corners thereof upon the members 12.

Mounted upon the bottom frame 10 is a scissors-type elevating linkage including, at each side of the apparatus, crossed lower arms 20, 22 pivotally connected at their lower ends to the end portions of the member 12 at the same side of the apparatus. Extending transversely of the elevating linkage and pivotally connected to the upper ends of the lower arms 20, 22 are horizontally disposed cross members 26, 24. Lower brace members 28 are pivotally connected at one end to the ends of the cross members 26, and at their other ends are connected to the arms 20, inwardly from the lower extremities of said arms 20.

Crossed upper arms 30, 32 are provided at the respectively opposite sides of the device, and are pivotally connected at their lower ends to the cross members 26, 24- respectively. The pivot pins extending into the ends of the cross members 24, 26 connect thereto all of the various arms that are connected to these cross members, that is, the pivot pins extending into the cross member 26 connect thereto the arms 22, 28 and 30 while the corresponding pivot pins of cross member 24 connect to member 24 the arms 20, 32, and brace arms 36 that are connected between the ends of the member 24 and the upper end portions of the arms 30.

Fixedly mounted (see Figure 4) on cross member 26, medially between the opposite sides of the device, is a horizontal motor support plate 38, on which an electric motor is mounted. The electric motor is of the reversible type, and is controllable either from the floor surface or from the top of the apparatus. It will be understood that control from the floor and from the top of the device can be readily effected by providing switch means at these locations, either of which switch means will be operable to start, stop or reverse the operation of the motor.

In any event, the drive shaft of the motor has secured thereto a drive pulley 42, disposed above a larger, driven pulley 44, and driving pulley 44 by means of a belt 46 trained about both pulleys.

To theundersideof the cross member 25 there is secured a bearing 47, in which is journalled one end of an elongated, horizontally disposed, threaded shaft 48. Shaft .48.is.secured to.the pulley-44 and is driventhereby, and

a set collar/i9 is secured to the shaft adjacent the bearing to cooperate with the hub of the pulley 44 in holding the shaft against endwise movement within the bearing -27.

At its other end, the shaft 43 is threadediy engaged in a nut i secured to the underside of the cross member 24.

At their upper ends, the arms 30, 32 are pivotally connected to the opposite sides of a horizontally disposed top frame generally designated 34. The top frame 34 is also of rectangular configuration and includes end members 52 rigid with side members 53.

In a preferred embodiment, the top frame would be slightly larger in Width and length than the largest sheet that is to be ordinarily handled by the device. For example, if the largest sheet to be handled is a sheet 4 x 8, the top frame would be slightly longer than eight feet and slightly Wider than four feet.

In any event, formed in the side members 53 of the top frame are upwardly opening, rectangular notches $4 unlformly spaced along the length of the side members 53, the distance between the centers of adjacent notches 5 being equal to the distance between the centers of adjacent ceiling joists into which the nails are to be driven. For example, ceiling joists are permanently spaced on l6-1nch centers, and such spacing would hold true for the distance between the centers of adjacent notches 54. The series of notches, as will be noted, is so arranged that there are end notches (Figure 2) disposed in closely spaced relation to the ends of the top frame 34, so that nails N supported thereabove would be driven into the end of the supported sheet S.

Top frame 34 extends about a rectangular, horizontal sheet support frame generally designated 55. Sheet support frame 55 includes a plurality of rectangular, open center sub-frames 56 extending transversely of the sheet support frame 55 and spaced closely apart longitudinally of the apparatus as shown in Figure 1. Each sub-frame, at its several corners, is integral with depending, short legs 57 disposed adjacent the inner surfaces of the side members 53 of top frame 34. Legs 57 at their lower ends are rigidly connected to longitudinal support rods 58 of the sheet support frame 55. Rods 53 extend substantially the full length of the top frame 53, and are normally disposed a short distance downwardly from the bottom edge of the top frame as best shown in Figure 2.

The spaces between the sub-frames occur at the locations of the notches 54, and it may be appropriately considered that the sheet support frame 55 in effect constitutes a flat platform on which the sheet or sheets S are supported as shown in Figure 2, which fiat platform means has transverse grooves registered with the transversely aligned notches 54 of top frame 34.

In any event, adapted to be removably positioned in the transversely extending recesses 59 constituted by the spaces between adjacent sub-frames are elongated, transversely extending nail support bars 66 the ends of which seat in the transverse aligned notches 54 as shown in Figures 2 and 3. At regularly spaced intervals along the longitudinal median of each bar 60, raised magnetic nail support elements 62 are secured. These are of disc shape. The conventional nails N are inverted, with their heads in contact withthe nail support elements 62, which magnetically attract the nails to hold the nails in vertical positions with their points projected upwardly.

In use of the apparatus, the nail support bars 60 would be prepared, by positioning nails upon the several elements 62 thereof. Then the several nail support bars are positioned in recesses 59, with their ends seated in notches of top frame 34. A-sheet then is positioned upon the sheet support frame 55,- and will be disposed above the tips of the nails, initially, as shown in Figure 2.

In this connection, the sheet support frame is resiliently, yieldably connected to the top frame 34, through a means shown to best advantage in Figure 2. Secured to the outer surfaces of the side members 53 of top frame 34 are vertically disposed, cylindrical brackets 64, and extending axially within the brackets are stems 66 about which are circumposed compression coil springs 68. Springs 63 at their lower ends abut against lower end walls of the brackets 64 apertured for slidable positioning of the stems 6d therethrough. At their upper ends, the springs abut against washers '70 carried by the stems. Stems 66, at their lower ends, have laterally inwardly projecting extensions bifurcated as shown at 72 and fixedly secured at their bifurcated ends to the support rails or rods 53 of the sheet support frame. The sheet support frame thus is normally supported with the plane of its top surface above the top edge of the top frame 34, a distance suflicient to dispose the sheet S above the tips of the nails N. However, the top frame 34, when the sheet S comes into engagement with the ceiling, is adapted to continue its upward movement as the apparatus continues in operation in a direction to elevate the sheet.

Continuing with the discussion of the use of the device, it will be observed that after the bars 69 have been provided with nails N and positioned as shown in Figures 2 and 3, and the sheets S have been placed upon the sheet support frame 55, the motor is operated to extend the collapsible linkage. The sheet begins to move upwardly toward the ceiling, and eventually contacts the ceiling, bearing against the undersides of the ceiling joists.

The motor continues in operation, and as a result, with the sheet S held against further upward movement by engagement against the joists, the top frame 34 continues to rise. In these circumstances, the sheet support frame 55 has become stationary, and the springs 68 compress as necessary to permit the continued upward movement of the top frame 34.

The further upward movement of the top frame 34 causes the nails N to penetrate the sheet S, and the nails N continue upwardly to be forced into the joists. In this connection, as will be noted the heads of the nails are disposed above the common plane of the top surface of the bars all, due to the provision of the raised elements 62 which are of a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the nails. Therefore, when the top frame 34 has been moved upwardly to its maximum extent, the heads of the nails will be set into the sheet, to permit the nail heads to be readily plastered over smoothly, if dry wall construction is being erected. if, of course, the sheets S are sheets of lathing material, over which wet plaster is to be applied, it is not in any sense necessary that the nail heads be inset in this manner.

In any event, it will be observed that when the top frame has been shifted upwardly to its maximum extent, the nails will all be simultaneously driven into the sheet and into the ceiling joists, so that the operation of elevating a sheet into proper position against the ceiling, and nailing the same to the ceiling, is completely automatic, and results entirely from movement of the operating mechanism in a direction to raise the sheet to the ceiling.

Thereafter, the apparatus is lowered, to be moved to a new location and used in the erection of an additional sheet. When the apparatus is lowered, any tendency of the bars (it) to remain in adherence with the nail heads by reason of the magnetic attraction referred to before may be eliminated by the weight of the bars, by any type of separable connection between the bars 6t and the top frame 34, or by permanently and fixedly securing the bars within the notches 54.

The entire device, so far as possible, would preferably be made of aluminum or other light but strong material, to reduce its weight when collapsed for transportation, although it is not, of course, essential to the invention that this particular material be employed.

It is believed apparent that the invention is not necessarily confined to the specific use or uses thereof described above, since it may be utilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the invention to be necessarily limited to the specific construction illustrated and described, since such construction is only intended to be illustrative of the principles, and the means presently devised to carry out said principles, it being considered that the invention comprehends any minor change in construction that may be permitted within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for elevating sheets into engagement with a ceiling and for nailing the sheets to the ceiling, comprising: a base; a horizontally disposed, open-center, top frame thereabove; means connected between the base and top frame adapted for raising and lowering the top frame; a sheet support frame bounded by the top frame and having a top surface normally lying in a plane above the top frame, the sheet support frame having spaced recesses formed in its top surface; means connecting the top and sheet support frames for relative vertical movement so as to permit continued upward movement of the top frame following engagement of a supported sheet against the ceiling; bars extending within the respective recesses and adapted for supporting a plurality of nails in inverted positions below said plane, for driving of the nails through the sheets into the ceiling responsive to continued upward movement of the top frame following engagement of the sheets against the ceiling; and magnetic elements spaced longitudinally of the respective bars to provide means for supporting the nails on the bars and for retaining the nails in said positions thereof.

2. Apparatus for elevating sheets into engagement with a ceiling and for nailing the sheets to the ceiling, comprising: a base; a horizontally disposed, open-center, top frame thereabove; means connected between the base and top frame adapted for raising and lowering the top frame; a sheet support frame bounded by the top frame and having a top surface normally lying in a plane above the top frame, the sheet support frame having spaced recesses formed in its top surface; means connecting the top and sheet support frames for relative vertical movement so as to permit continued upward movement of the top frame following engagement of a supported sheet against the ceiling; bars extending within the respective recesses and adapted for supporting a plurality of nails in inverted positions below said plane, for driving of the nails through the sheets into the ceiling responsive to continued upward movement of the top frame following engagement of the sheets against the ceiling; and magnetic elements spaced longitudinally of the respective bars to provide means for supporting the nails on the bars and for retaining the nails in said positions thereof, the top frame having on opposite sides thereof upwardly opening notches spaced longitudinally of the top frame and receiving the ends of the several bars.

3. Apparatus for elevating sheets into engagement with a ceiling and for nailing the sheets to the ceiling, comprising: a base; a horizontally disposed, open-center, top frame thereabove; means connected between the base and top frame adapted for raising and lowering the top frame; a sheet support frame bounded by the top frame and having a top surface normally lying in a plane above the top frame, the sheet support frame having spaced recesses formed in its top surface; means connecting the top and sheet support frames for relative vertical movement so as to permit continued upward movement of the top frame following engagement of a supported sheet against the ceiling; bars extending within the respective recesses and adapted for supporting a plurality of nails in inverted positions below said plane, for driving of the nails through the sheets into the ceiling responsive to continued upward movement of the top frame following engagement of the sheets against the ceiling; and magnetic elements spaced longitudinally of the respective bars to provide means for supporting the nails on the bars and for retaining the nails in said positions thereof, the top frame having on opposite sides thereof upwardly opening notches spaced longitudinally of the top frame and receiving the ends of the several bars, said sheet support frame comprising a plurality of rectangular sub-frames fixedly connected in spaced relation, the spaces between adjacent sub-frames defining said recesses and extending transversely of the sheet support frame over the full width thereof.

4. Apparatus for elevating sheets into engagement with a ceiling and for nailing the sheets to the ceiling, comprising: a base; a horizontally disposed, open-center top frame thereabove; means connected between the base and top frame adapted for raising and lowering the top frame; a sheet support frame bounded by the top frame and having sides extending in closely spaced relation to the corresponding sides of the top frame, the sheet support frame having a top surface normally lying in a plane above the top frame, said sheet support frame having spaced recesses formed in its top surface; resilient, yielding connections supporting the sheet support frame from the top frame and tensioned to normally locate the sheet support frame with its top surface in said plane, said connections being yieldable for relative vertical movement of the top frame and sheet support frames in a direction to permit continued upward movement of the top frame toward said plane following engagement of a supported sheet against the ceiling; bars extending within the respective recesses and supported at their ends upon the sides of the top frame, said bars adapted for supporting a plurality of nails in inverted positions below said plane in the normal position of the sheet support frame, for driving of the nails through the sheet into the ceiling responsive to continued upward movement of the top frame following engagement of the sheet against the ceiling; and magnetic elements spaced longitudinally of the respective bars and adapted to provide supports for the nails and to hold the nails in said inverted positions thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 614,443 Charbonneau Nov. 22, 1898 1,885,170 Anderson Nov. 1, 1932 2,583,615 Tobey Jan. 29, 1952 

